C3 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Part 2 of 3 (1973 to 1977)

[@RestorationObsession]

Love my 76!! She's a great driver and lots of fun to work on. Will be doing some major rear-end work on it very soon. Don't forget, the 76 has the infamous Vega steering wheel!

[@markcoleman3370]

And I believe first year with steel floor pan

[@russellboyd5262]

I have a 1977 torch red corvette.C3 has always been my dream car,I added headers,high performance exhaust manifold,Flowmaster high performance exhust.tune up,timing chain,tuneup,new mono leaf spring,new tires ,brakes,harmonic balancer,new valve covers,air cleaner,This car is a head turner for sure.Iam very glad i have it.Its a daily driver,that i love dearly.russ

[@corvettejimmy3323]

I love your corvette videos. No nonsense and straight to the point....

[@vincerencher9128]

76 was the last "stingray" 77 had the cross flags emblems instead.

[@tylerfaulkner5889]

I have wanted a C3 since I was a kid, finally at 26 I got one. 1976 red with dark brown interior 😍

[@dukeboy09]

That's awesome man! I'm 27 looking my first Vette and I have my eye on a 73 close to me I'm hoping that I can snag it !

[@jswap1]

1974 - last year with true dual exhaust, and last year without cats 1975 - last year with fiberglass floors (I heard they went to steel floors in 1976 because the new cats were melting the fiberglass floors in the 1975s. and so you have to watch out for rusted-out floors in 1976+ cars)

[@__hsalman__]

I have a 73 and I LOVE IT!

[@curtiswangrud8748]

73 was the intro of the L-82 as the optional higher hp engine. I had a 75 vert and was never terribly disappointed in the power (at the time), but had the cats removed and ill assume most owners did that asap. Somewhere there is a huge pile of 1975 cats hahaha. Btw, your MPG comment regarding the 74 454 is spot on. Worse than a 74 Eldorado.

[@dannywilsher4165]

I had a 77 Vette till a man came by and offered me 3 times what I thought it was worth.... Cash...

[@Cbfgnjhc]

I'm glad that everybody's got a giant hard-on for horsepower because it allows some of these Corvettes to be lower-priced and affordable like the 80/81 and 82 and some of the late 70s and you can get another 100 horsepower out of these cars but just working with the motor headers carburetion stuff like that

[@gordonliddy6997]

I always learn something on every one of these great videos. I didn’t know about the one year only split bumper on a 74. I have a goal to be able to tell the year of any stock corvette without opening the hood... 73, 74 have unique bumpers... Good info. Don’t forget the 76 has the Vega steering wheel.

[@sdsconstruction]

Hi Lyle. Love the content. Thanks! I have a 1973 vette, 69k miles, blue w/T tops. Bought in 1986 and had it in storage from 1991 to 2017. Just had the engine rebuilt from a 350 to a 383 and attended to the many mechanicals issues (that would a great friend and master mechanic that did it all, as I am a carpenter and teacher by trade). Looking forward to the summer and a car that starts....runs really fast with 300+hp, and has not only working wiper arms and a new stereo but even has a functional clock! I would request more C3 videos please. I always learn something.

[@hogster5935]

I had a 76 4speed and drove it like crazy. If I remember nothing major went wrong with it. No power but fun times. My fave is a 70 lt1 4speed for those year C3 vettes.

[@RBRShift2CivV]

I had a '73. I was young and stupid, knew nothing about them except that they looked cool. Had the motor rebuilt but a year later, replaced the trans a few months after that. Then it developed some front suspension issues and couldn't afford to fix it any longer and sold it as a loss

[@pammietime4495]

Great vid! My husband finalllly getting his dream car 77 black on black corvette.He was 14 dreaming and now 55 and said ya know what I found it!!! Can't wait...less than 2 weeks in our driveway.We live in a small mountain town so will be so awesome to take care of her.

[@tommeere3901]

Love this series

[@ralphmeder7842]

I have a '73 coupe, small block, original TH400 auto, with PW, PS, tilt-tele, and factory air; however, I have modestly upgraded the 350 (which was not original anyway) with mild cam, aluminum heads, roller rockers, headers with true dual exhaust, aluminum intake, holley 750, MSD ignition, twin-fan aluminum radiator upgrade. Further restoration included new Viper Red paint, electric headlight conversion, new window motors, weatherstripping, sound-deadening mats, new AC compressor (which is coming), and brand new interior (work in progress). Nothing crazy, just making it a blast to drive! She brings a smile to my face every time I turn the key.

[@northerniltree]

Although "nothing crazy", that sounds like a 15K upgrade. Probably the best $ you'll ever spend.

[@ralphmeder7842]

@@northerniltree yes, this has been and will continue to be a labor of love. It's what brings each of us a little joy in this crazy world we are all trying to survive. Thank you for your kind words!

[@northerniltree]

@@ralphmeder7842 I have the same 1973 as yours before your build. I have other older higher HP Vettes, but you have inspired me to rethink selling my '73.

[@SuperCommando60]

Never understood the love for 73 over 74. They are identical cars, same power train options, identical trim, it’s like people freak out over the split rear bumper or something. Don’t forget the L82…basically an LT1 with hydraulics. 4 bolt mains, higher cam, carb tuning, brings it on much higher in the revs than either of the other 2 engines. I have one…it’s fast

[@georgemattar1705]

I have a silver 73 coupe. Love my car. The optional YJ8 wheels were not really available until the 76 model year. Supposedly about 4 cars in 73 had YJ8. Great videos Lyle.

[@Tman76]

I like my early ‘77. It did not have the Stingray badge because they guy behind it retired, but I am ok with that. It has lots of unique things. The current engine is a 480hp 350 wire Hooker headers and side pipes. Originally it was silver with red interior, now it is red on red. The metal parts on the door panels have the unique black insert, it has the security key on the front fender, the one of a kind tilt and telescoping steering column, the orange painted engine before they changed to blue, rear defogger, and is a L82. Many of those features were unusual and/or only on the ones built in the first half of the year. Makes me mad because from what I can tell only about 40 we’re made with my specs, but it is no longer all original. Although I can’t complain about having more than twice the stock HP, and when I paint it I will probably return it to silver.

[@davidbuddendorf991]

I have a 1973 Ls-4 275 horsepower more powerful than 1972 for 15 years n never had a problem with it! 95,000 miles on it..I also raced it at Englishtown N.J. over 300 1/4 mile passes best is 13 seconds at 107 mph with dragslicks..I also took the A/C and air pump belt off..love this car and don't care about the value, I'm not allowed to sell it my daughter has been wanting it for years now !

[@ratj4715]

No pictures of the cars as you go.

[@rea8755]

Lyle I am trying to determine my engine size of my 1977. Thanks for the letting me know the info on battery!

[@csvette]

5th digit in the VIN is either L for the L48 or X for the L82. Lyle

[@capcitylandtv2383]

You never lied about those 77 parts prices.

[@larcelmer]

Isn't 1976 the first year for sheet metal floorboard compared to the fiberglass boards which made the cockpit much hotter? Love your videos

[@merlinwag]

Thanks for sharing these videos, always educational and entertaining. Wish you were closer, I need some work done on my 73 454 convertible. Any west coast Southern California shops you recommend?

[@ChrisBrown-pz2gu]

Didn't they go to a steel floor in 1976?

[@fuse911]

Which one is the most reliable and easy to work on?

[@rogerpullin8997]

So it took GM from 68 to 77 to sort out all the C-3 problems, maybe it is a good thing I did not get a 2020 or a 2021, don't know if I can wait until 2029

[@TheWatcher1998]

Him saying 200hp is bad Me with my 55hp corsa 🤩🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍😍

[@rayjohnson7584]

Looking at a75 coup with 350 motor and 350 trans. I’m not a mechanic but am interested in corvettes, my question is if that engine is standard for model and year it’s automatic also? Thanks

[@csvette]

Yes, that is what they would have come with. :)

[@crawford323]

A family member has a '73 big block automatic. It is claimed the car was only one of 209 with that particular package, I'm guessing. It is also claimed it came with the aluminum/Mag? wheels which were not offered until later year models. Is this ringing a bell? The car is gray and I believe has the removable split top. I wish I had the vin number. It is claimed to be stock original numbers and never damaged. What would be so special about this car other than it is 50 years old and a corvette in one piece?

[@lyleaulwurm9486]

Well, 1973 was the only year of the rubber front bumper and the chrome rear bumpers, it is a big block and in inoffensive color. There were only 4 cars in 1973 that actually came with the aluminum wheels, and they had a particular part # and suffered from porosity problems. I highly doubt that the car was born with those wheels. Other than that, big block Corvettes are always interesting (even low horsepower ones). I'm not sure how they come to the "1 of 209" figure, but there were 4476 big blocks made that year and over 17,000 automatics. Lyle

[@jimharrow8104]

Nice...

[@rustybell5222]

Lyle, you and Larry Shinoda (C3 designer) both agree that the 73 with its sleek front end and original Kammback tail was the best looking Vette ever. Please be aware that a stock 73 with the L82 small block option put out almost hp as the big block and they were very close to the 1970 hi-po 350 in output. 1975 was when they downgraded the engines, transmissions, etc. to accept less power.

[@that_thing_I_do]

Do you guys in the States have trouble getting car insurance?

[@stephenberry156]

Need to make 74 frame repairs. What gauge steel is the frame?

[@widndn]

I have a 73 with a rebuilt 1969 corvette motor putting out 350 horsepower with upgrades to the motor pushing 400 horsepower, 4 speed auto transmission out of a 80s corvette, car is painted black with flared fenders.

[@DanTheVetteMan]

I have a '75 with 4 speed. But now it has a custom 700R4 from Monster Transmissions, 4.10 rear gears, a L98 350 from an '87 Firebird, bored 30 over, domed pistons, ported heads, 10:1 compression, Edelbrock intake and carb, Hooker Headers and side pipes... the way they should have been built in 1975... you know, with 400hp!

[@rockynmama4339]

Hi guys! Iam looking at buying a fairly restored 74 c3. Rebuilt L82 engine and other. Now the guy says 35k on the dash. Now what does that mean? I know what on the body means but I cannot find anything about “on the dash” Thank you! Keep putting out these great videos!

[@csvette]

That means that the mileage isn't believed to be actual. Those speedometers tended to break after about 10 years, and while they still tell you your speed they do not turn the odometer to count miles. This is very, very common on the C3. Lyle

[@russelljdj]

Greed dominated Chevy in the C3 Corvette. They knew they all would be sold so why try. Still The C3 in my view, the best looking American Car ever. They lost their soul after 82.

[@ilovel.a.6731]

Add some pictures please.

[@dashcammer4322]

73 last year for the kammback?

[@colehara]

Yes

[@allansundstroem]

Great info. Would have been even better with illustrations of the cars you are talking about - bumper, no bumper etc

[@michaelgaruti5976]

Is part 3 out yet?

[@csvette]

Comes out Friday. :) Lyle

[@jamesvenable1948]

74 last year for true dual exhausts

[@413TomaccoRoad]

'73 is the best looking one of the C3 , then '68 & 69. 😁

[@Jockebanan99]

Great videos but you missed out on safety stuff like seat belts, steel bars in door and weight.

[@csvette]

I know I did, Johan. I was focused on keeping these videos brief, so some information had to be left out. I may very well do an in-depth series on each model year in the future where I can delve into the minute details of each year of production, but for this one I just wanted to keep it light and hit the main points. Thank you! Lyle

[@Jockebanan99]

@@csvette Yeah, I understand that. To me it's crazy that people have old Vettes with 500+ HP without seat belts or side impact protection bars 😮

[@dougmmarshall]

1976 Vega steering wheel.

[@haroldtalaski4955]

My 76 says stingray

[@jonhill9564]

👍

[@michaelstratton6701]

C3 go further then 77,they go 82

[@csvette]

That's why there is a part 3 to this series and it comes out today. Lyle

[@lanes58]

Right. But, ‘77 was the last year of the flat back window. Which imho, is better looking than the big sloped back window.

[@aarongarcia1101]

Says who? This guy? such bs, get what you like

[@csvette]

This guy has 25 years experience working on these cars every day. This guy is trying to steer new people coming into the hobby away from problematic years of production. This guy is not selling cars, either. Get what you like, of course, but maybe also listen to the professionals who are putting this info out there for free? Lyle